Manchester United have delayed naming Louis van Gaal as their next manager, but are expected to do so next week.

United want to wait until the season ends on Sunday before making an official announcement over David Moyes's permanent successor.

Yet the delay comes as a surprise given Wednesday's apparent deadline – imposed by Van Gaal, the Holland coach, and the Dutch Football Association – to have his future sorted out before he begins preparations for the tournament.

Van Gaal met up with part of his Holland squad on Wednesday and did not address the local media. Yet the matter is certain to be raised when he is scheduled to host a news conference for the national team next Tuesday when he will name his provisional squad for the tournament.

The delay in naming a manager also leaves United in an unwanted state of flux and, if appointed as the club's manager, Van Gaal will be unable to take over at Old Trafford until the Netherlands's campaign at next month's tournament in Brazil ends.

After United's dismal Premier League defence under Moyes this term, Van Gaal will be charged with mounting a serious championship challenge next season. Having won crowns at all of his four previous clubs – Ajax, Barcelona, AZ and Bayern Munich – the 62-year-old is confident he can win United their 21st title.

Players Van Gaal is interested in adding to his new squad, in what United hope will be a close season of rebuilding, include Bayern's Thomas Mueller and Borussia Dortmund's Marco Reus.

Senior United defender Rio Ferdinand admits the United squad have little idea when an appointment will be made. Ferdinand told BT Sport: "All the papers have been talking about Klopp, Simeone, Van Gaal, Giggsy getting it, Ancelotti, Mourinho - but we're like guys sitting in the pub discussing it.

"If you believe and listen to the reports going around it'll be someone with real credentials who has been at big clubs and won a lot of things."